Switch panel



oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,078

W. E. HAWLEY SWITCH PANEL Filed July'zs. 192s' 2 sheatssneet 1` f FIEJ.

Will/l IN VEA/Ton W., E. HAWLEY SWITCH PANEL Filed Juiy 25, 1925 sheets-sheet 2 Fuse.

rf-'E7 /N VEN TR W/TNESQES of @QMW Patented oa. 16, 1928.

UNITED lSTATES WILLIAM n. HAWLEY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA..

' swrrcn PANEL.

Application led J'uly 25, 1923. Serial No. 853,736.

This invention relates to switch panels and more particularly to safety switch panels of the cabinet type wherein the main switch, fuses and bus bars are normally inaccessible to those operating the series of switches.

It is desirable to' have switch panels of this type as compact and narrows as possible so as to occupy but a small amount of space and an object of this invention is to' provide l a means which enables a more compact arrangement of parts than has heretofore been deemed possible `and which at the same time complies with the underwriters requirements. l5 In the usual switch panels now in use the -bus bars-are located centrally thereof with the switches onopposite sides of the bus bars and with the fuses outside of the switches. ASuch a construction hasjbeen necessary in 0 order to obtain the degree of clearance required b the Underwriters.

In or er to obtain a more compact vand at the same time a safe arrangement of `artsv I provide a switchl supporting block o any desired insulating material, through which the bus bars extend and on which the switches are mounted. By providing such a block I am enabled to mount the switches directly over certain of the bus bars and to bring the fuses closer to the center of the panel which results in an appreciably narrower product without in any way renderin it unsafe. y y invention contemplates an improvement over ,the safety panel, described in Patent Number 1,313,555, granted August 19, 1919, to William F. ONeill. f One embodiment of my invention is shown in the annexed drawings in which4 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch panel constructed in accordance with vmy invention with the door thereto removed, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig; 3 is a section on the'line3-3 of Fig. 1, ig. 4 is a perspective view of my switch supporting block, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a partition plate which is provided between the various sets of switches when a plurality of them is used and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the lswitch panel showing the small door for access to the series of switches and the large door which is adapted to be locked As illustrated, my invention includes the usual base member 7 adapted to directly sup' port the fuses 8 which, although shown as cartridge fuses, may obviously be of any desired ty e. The usual main switch 9,*generally o the knife type, 'is provided at one 60 end of the base member for connecting the bus bars 10, 11 and 12 with the main circuit. Centrally mounted on the base member is a switch supporting block 13, shown in detail in Fig. 4. This block has channels 14 and 15 in the inner face which abuts the base member 7, the channels bein provided for the reception andsupport 0% the bus bars 11 and 12.` Integrally formed centrally of the opposite, or outer face 17 of the block are two fianges `18 and 19 which form a channel 20 for the reception and support of the neutral bus bar 10. 4 On opposite sides of this central-channel 20 on the outer face 17 of the block I mount .75

the switches 21 and 22 which may be of any desired type but which are herein shown as `ordinary toggle switches. In this wa I am enabled to support the switches direct y over theactive bus bars instead of on opposite 80. sides thereof as has heretofore been customary. A

The switch sup orting block 13 has formed in the face 17 n 24 for the reception ofthe fuse contacts and the bus bar` connections to the switches.

The base member 7 is provided with side and end members 25 and 26, respectively,on which is mounted the door 27. provided with a lock 28 for preventing access to the live partstof` the panel by an unauthorized person,'as disclosed in the aforesaid patent. A smaller door 29 is also provided, as disclosed in said patent, for permitting access ,to the series 'o switches.

To the outer face of. each pair of switches a plate 30 is secured for the purpose of protecting the working parts of the switches and rendering them inaccessible through the small door. One edge of the plate 30 has a 10o groove 31, see Fig. 3, in which theadjoining edge of the cooperating plate rests when a multiplicity of units are em loyed in a single panel. In the front face o each plate a depressed portion 32 is provided to receive an 105 indicating card for the purpose of showing `what circuit the adjacent switch controls.

When a multiplicity of units are used in a single panel, as shown in Fig.,3, I provide p partition plates 33, made of any deslred inepressions` or slots- 23 and sulating material, between each unit. In the lower edge of each partition I provide notches 34 to enable the plate to fit over the bus bars and contact with the base plate 7. From the construction shown it will be seen that While I have provided a very compact switch panel I have in no way done away with the necessary safety features.

Having thus described my invention what claim is A switch panel unit .including a block of insulating material provided with channels in one face thereof, spaced flanges forming4 a channel in the opposite face, switches mounted on said opposite face adjacent said 15 A flanges and adapted to be electrically coni nected to bus bars received within said channels and slots formed in said block adjacent said switches for receiving fuse connections.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- 20 

